O'Shaughnessy Ventures Backs New York City Documentary Project

Photographer Rob Stephenson awarded $100,000 fellowship to expand visual and sonic archive of the city's neighborhoods

GREENWICH, Conn., May 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- O'Shaughnessy Ventures LLC (OSV), an investment firm that empowers creators, has awarded a $100,000 O'Shaughnessy Fellowship to Rob Stephenson, an award-winning fine art and architectural photographer based in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Stephenson will use the fellowship to expand The Neighborhoods, his long-term documentary project that combines photography, field recordings and research-based writing to create a visual and sonic archive of New York City's neighborhoods in the early 21st century. He will grow the project, which is currently distributed as a newsletter, into an interactive website, with print editions also under consideration. Nearing the end of its second year, The Neighborhoods has covered nearly 100 of the city's 300-plus neighborhoods.

Stephenson's photographs of evolving urban landscapes have been exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and in venues across North America and Europe. His commissions include work for the Center for Architecture and the Architectural League of New York. He has received multiple fellowships and awards, including the FotoFilmic Solo V award and the Joyce Elaine Grant Photography Exhibition Solo Show award. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Wired, Bloomberg Businessweek and other publications.

OSV's founder and CEO, Jim O'Shaughnessy, commented, "As a New York lover and photography fan, I'm thrilled to support this important cultural and historical project."

"I am deeply honored to receive the O'Shaughnessy Fellowship," said Stephenson. "This recognition and support will allow me to fully dedicate myself to creating a comprehensive and accessible archive of New York City."

About the O'Shaughnessy Fellowships Program

Launched in 2023, the O'Shaughnessy Fellowships program discovers and empowers the world's boldest creatives, builders and researchers. Fellows receive a $100,000 grant and gain access to OSV's network of founders, investors and experts.

OSV will award 12 fellowships in 2025. Applicants will also be considered for the O'Shaughnessy Grants program, which provides 20 additional $10,000 grants to promising innovators.

Stephenson is the fifth fellow announced in 2025. More information about previous fellows is available at OSV's website.

Applications for the fellowships are now closed and will reopen on Jan. 1, 2026. Individuals interested in learning more can do so via OSV's website.

About O'Shaughnessy Ventures

OSV is a creative investment firm that empowers creators to bring their ideas to life. Founded by Jim O'Shaughnessy, a pioneer in quantitative investing, founder of O'Shaughnessy Asset Management, and author of five books, OSV aims to provide financial support and to partner in growing the next life-changing creative ideas.

OSV combines Jim's deeply rooted interest in all things art, science, investing and technology with his long-held desire to establish scenarios designed to help promising creators and their inspiring ideas succeed, regardless of age, location, job history or level of education. For more information, visit OSV's website.

Media Contact:
Ena Gong
O'Shaughnessy Ventures LLC
(917) 355-7420
[email protected]

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SOURCE O'Shaughnessy Ventures